Viburnum plant named ‘NCVP1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viburnum  plant named ‘NCVP1’ with a compact habit, and white flowers in spring that rebloom in summer. ‘NCVP1’ is a new cultivar of doublefile  Viburnum , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Viburnum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘NCVP1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct doublefile Viburnum cultivar hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘NCVP1’. This new doublefile Viburnum was developed through a breeding program at Mills River, N.C. ‘NCVP1’ was selected from an F₂ population of seedlings derived from Viburnum plicatum tomentosum H2008-058-076 (‘Molly Schroeder’ x ‘Summer Snowflake’)(not patented). The first asexual propagation of ‘NCVP1’ was carried out in July 2013 by rooting stem cuttings at a research greenhouse in Mills River, N.C. and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over a 8-year period. ‘NCVP1’ roots readily from softwood cuttings treated with a basal dip of 3,000-4,000 ppm indole butyric acid (potassium salt) in water. ‘NCVP1’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the unique combination of characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under standard horticultural practices at a research greenhouse in Mills River, N.C.

-   -   1. A compact habit with dense branching.     -   2. Abundant white flowers in spring with repeat blooming in         summer.     -   3. Burgundy-red fall foliage color.

COMPARISON WITH PARENT VARIETIES

Records of the parent variety characteristics are not available. The inventor cannot make a comparison to the seed parent. The pollen parent is unknown.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘NCVP1’ is distinguished from Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’(unpatented) in that ‘NCVP1’ has a smaller, more compact habit to 120 cm tall and wide, whereas V. plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’ grows to about 200 cm tall. ‘NCVP1’ is distinguished from V. plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’(unpatented) in that ‘Mariesii’ will grow taller and wider than 200 cm tall, and ‘NCVP1’ will remain compact. ‘NCVP1’ is distinguished from Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Molly Schroeder’ (unpatented) in that ‘NCVP1’ has pure white sterile flowers and V. plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Molly Schroeder’ has pink sterile flowers. ‘NCVP1’ is distinguished from ‘SMNVPTFD’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,553 in having a larger habit (120 cm tall and wide) compared to 60 to 90 cm and 90 to 120 cm wide habit of SMNVPTFD’. The plant habit of ‘NCVP1’ is globose and upright, whereas the habit of ‘SMNVPTFD’ is more horizontally spreading. The new variety does not form fruit; ‘SMNVPTFD’ forms berries in the Fall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new doublefile Viburnum is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form, foliage and inflorescences. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Viburnum. Plants in the photographs are approximately 2 years old.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a field-grown plant with white inflorescences in Spring 2020 in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the high floral coverage and compact habit of ‘NCVP1’ taken in Spring 2020 in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the sterile and fertile flowers of ‘NCVP1’ taken in Mills River, N.C. on Mar. 2, 2021 in a greenhouse.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct doublefile Viburnum cultivar known by the denomination ‘NCVP1’. The detailed description was taken on a two-year-old container-grown plant in Mills River, N.C. and six-year-old plants in Grand Haven, Mich. in 2020. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, Sixth Edition). Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Densely branched, compact, globose with tiered     branches. -   Height:     -   -   Two-year-old container-grown plant.—25 cm.         -   Six-year-old field-grown plants.—120 cm. -   Width:     -   -   Two-year-old container-grown plant.—30 cm.         -   Six-year-old field-grown plants.—120 cm. -   Stems, shoots, branches, trunk:     -   -   Shoots (current year's growth).—Shape: Rounded. Shoot             length: Average 6.8 cm (4 to 10.5 cm). Shoot diameter: About             0.2 cm. Color: Grey-Brown (199B). Texture: Pubescent.         -   Shoots (prior year's growth).—Shape: Rounded. Stem length:             Avg. 15 cm (9 to 28 cm). Stem diameter: Avg. 2.7 cm (2 to 3             cm). Color: Grey-Brown (199A). Texture: Glabrous with             lenticels.         -   Branches (woody branches 2-4 years old).—Shape: Rounded.             Branch length: Avg. 26.8 cm (21 to 40 cm). Branch diameter:             Avg 1.0 cm (0.8 to 1.3 cm). Color: Grey-Brown (199A).             Texture: Glabrous with vertical fissures.         -   Internode length.—Avg. 4 cm (2 to 7 cm).

FOLIAGE

-   Type: Simple. -   Persistence: Deciduous. -   Arrangement: Opposite. -   Shape: Ovate. -   Length of lamina: Avg. 8.5 cm (5 to 12 cm). -   Width: Avg. 4.5 cm (3.5 to 5.5 cm). -   Emerging leaves:     -   -   Color.—Upper: Green (137A) flushed with Red-Purple (59B).             Lower: Yellow-Green (146B) flushed with Greyed-Purple             (186D).         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Mature leaves during growing season:     -   -   Color.—Upper: Green (137A). Lower: Yellow-Green (146B).         -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous. Lower: Pubescent. -   Fall foliage:     -   -   Color.—Red-Purple (61A), upper and lower surfaces. -   Apex: Acute. -   Base: Cuneate. -   Margins: Serrate. -   Venation: Pinnate.     -   -   Vein color.—Upper: Green (137A). Lower: Red-Purple (58A). -   Leaf attachment: Petiolate.     -   -   Petiole.—Length: Avg. 0.8 cm (0.6 to 1 cm). Diameter: About             0.1 cm. Color: Red-Purple (58A). Texture: Pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Description: Flowers arranged in terminal flat-topped cymes, with     inner fertile flowers and outer sterile flowers. -   Flowering season: May in Mills River, N.C. -   Number of inflorescences per plant: About 50 per three-gallon     containerized plant. -   Number of flowers per inflorescence: About 100. -   Fragrance: None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Diameter.—Avg. 15 cm (10 to 18 cm).         -   Height.—Avg. 7.5 cm (5 to 8 cm). -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Length.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green (145C). -   Flower:     -   -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Fertile flower height.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—Avg. 2.6 cm (1.8 to 3.5 cm).         -   Sterile flower height.—About 0.2 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Fertile flowers.—Number of petals per fertile flower: 5.             Shape: Ovate. Length: About 0.1 cm. Width: About 0.1 cm.             Color: Green-White (157C). Texture: Glabrous all surfaces.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.         -   Sterile flowers.—Number of petals per sterile flower: 4             to 5. Shape: Rounded. Length: Avg. 1.2 cm (1.1 to 1.4 cm).             Width: Avg. 1.0 cm (0.8 to 1.4 cm). Color: Green-White             (157D). Texture: Glabrous all surfaces. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—5 fused sepals.         -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Width.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green (144D) upper and lower surfaces.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent all surfaces.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.15 cm.         -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green (152C).         -   Texture.—Pubescent. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—About 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green (145A).         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Rounded.         -   Stigma color.—Green-White (157B).         -   Style length.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Style color.—Green-White (157B). -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen number.—5.         -   Anther shape.—Rounded.         -   Anther size.—Less than 0.1 cm.         -   Anther color.—Green-White (157B).         -   Amount of pollen.—Average.         -   Pollen color.—Yellow (5A).

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruit and seed: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No significant disease or insect     pests have been observed. -   Cold hardiness: At least USDA zone 6b; testing has not been     completed in colder zones. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plant named ‘NCVP1’ as illustrated and described herein. 